-Allow me to reintroduce myself- My entire life, I’ve been grappling with the question, What the heck is my purpose—or my ikigai—here? Is this a millennial thing? Or maybe it’s the influence of my cultural background, where I always felt the pressure to excel, to strive for something greater, even when I wasn’t entirely sure what that “something” was. I always did well in everything, but there was never that one thing that stood out, that made me say, This is it! But here’s what I do know: I’m a creative, sensitive soul. 😌 After years of navigating the twists and turns of corporate life, I finally embraced what truly drives me—creativity, flexibility, and the freedom to pursue my multiple passions. In July, I made the leap into full-time freelancing as a social media manager and tidying coach. Both roles are challenging and rewarding in their own ways, but it’s a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything. In the midst of creating so much content, and as if managing multiple accounts isn't enough, I realized I’ve been neglecting LinkedIn 😝, forgetting to share my journey with you. LinkedIn has never been a place where I’ve shared my personal story. Well, it's time to reconnect, to network, and to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Whether you're in the corporate world, freelancing, or somewhere in between, there's value in every step of our journey. ✨So, I’d love to hear from other freelancers— what’s your journey been like? One question I’m asked the most is, ‘How do you make yourself accountable each day to work?’ The answer is simple: passion. I even work more hours now because I genuinely love what I’m doing. When you find something that works for you, you keep investing in it. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing these past months— educating myself, learning from other creators, and honing the skills I actually want to master, not just the ones a company demands and all on my own terms. I’m determined to be great at what I do, to deliver excellence, and I’m thrilled that I’ve finally turned my passions into my profession. Otherwise, they’d have just remained hobbies… Now, I’m leveling up my content game and celebrating each small step. I’ve spent months sharpening my iPhone photo and videography skills—because let’s be honest, every great shot counts. 😜 And—🥁— both websites are live and created by myself! 🎉 It’s been a month of growth, creativity, and hard work. It feels incredible to do what I love, blending my passions and letting my creativity flow. Knowing I can thrive in both areas is truly fulfilling! 💕 Wondering what I’m up to now? 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejS-VQBm Let’s connect and support each other as we grow.
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I already quitted twice and I can’t quit anymore. Year 2016👇 - Class 11th student - loved reading wikiHow & Stylecraze articles - Told myself I wanted to write something like this one day 2020👇 - Pandemic, quite bored - Rekindling my old hobbies - remembered I wanted to write blogs & decided to try - I learned everything I could about blogging - create a WordPress account, started writing some random tips - Grew a community of 700+ readers 2021👇 - relaxed restrictions, Still at home, writing blogs - Came across a video on YouTube Got to know about freelancing - Watched more videos about freelancing - Still unsure to start but decided to try - created an account on freelancer.com - applied for a few gigs, thought no one will hire me - Surprisingly, got a gig - Made some good money, paid off my college bill & repaired my old laptop (before that I was writing on the phone) 2022👇 - Joined my master's at a prestigious university - Couldn’t manage work & studies - Had to quit freelancing 2023 - I 👇 - Somehow I figured out how to manage work & studies - Got a low-paying gig. (Happily accepted it) - Didn’t do any outreaches, was just working on that one low-paying gig. 2023 👇 - Completed my master's & also I’m one of the rank-holders - Spent 6 months for preparing exams to get into PhD - Got a gig in my niche which helped me build my portfolio 2024👇 - Found I love freelancing more than other career - Joined 366 Days LinkedIn Challenge by Nithish & Mantasha - Started being consistent on LinkedIn & made some amazing friends - Started applying for more gigs, job opportunities, and cold outreaching - Pushing out of my comfort zone & giving my best in whatever I do. It’s my journey so far, by the end of 2024, I want my journey to look like this. 👇 - Reached six-figure income (INR) consistently - Featured on LinkedIn audio events & podcasts - Made more friends across the world - Known for being one of the kindest LinkedIn creators - My community has grown to more than 5k followers - Give back to my parents (They are working too hard & it’s time for me to make them happy) I wish the rest of my journey would look like this. I still haven’t reached heights yet, but I won’t stop my journey ever. Even if I win or fail, I’ll keep working & make my visions come true. And quitting, it’s something I can’t think about anymore, after quitting twice before. So, it’s the time & I promise to give my 100% this year. P.S. Have you ever quit before on your journey?
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Last night, around 1 AM local time, I received a message from a client who is thousands of miles away that read, "Hey, the content has been approved. We're closing this project. It was great working with you. Would love to work with you again in the future.Thank you" It was Healthline #content I had been working on for a two-month-long project. Seeing this message made me incredibly happy and reflective, as I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from this experience. In freelancing, we often don’t get to know our clients deeply, but this message highlighted the #professional_growth freelancing fosters. It's not just about financial gain; it's about expanding your horizons beyond a single product or industry. As I pondered this, I realized how far my #freelancing journey has taken me. Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with a wide range of clients, from startups to multinational corporations, and on projects spanning social media content to technical writing (P.S. need to explore more). ✍️ #One_particular_memory_stands_out: a few years ago, I collaborated with a small startup on a social media campaign. Despite their size, their passion and innovation were incredibly inspiring. That experience taught me that regardless of the project's scale or the client's size, there's always something #valuable to learn. Freelancing has been an incredible adventure, and there’s so much more to explore in this sector. Each project is a new opportunity to grow, learn, and connect. #Image_Description: Capturing the essence of freelancing with a vibrant snapshot. Text overlay lists the top 5 reasons why #I believe freelancing benefits individuals: #Freelancing #ProfessionalGrowth #ContentCreation #FreelanceLife #CareerJourney #Healthline #ClientSuccess #LearningEveryDay #GlobalFreelancing
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Because life is too short… It was early spring, off-season, on a quiet beach in Kas, Turkey, when I first met Marianne and Chris Fisher, the duo behind the YouTube channel Tread the Globe. The sea was freezing, the town was quiet, and we clicked instantly. As we talked, I learned they had started their YouTube channel and, by that time, had grown it to around 50K subs. I was hooked by their story—no polish, no filters—just pure authenticity. Starting a YouTube channel in their 50s, learning everything on the go—filming, editing, managing social media—was unexpected and fascinating. What pushed them? “Because life is too short,” they said. So, they packed up everything and chose to truly live. Looking back, I realize how much they meant to me in my early freelancing days. They were among the first to say, “Yes, we trust you,” when I was still figuring things out. They gave me the freedom to grow, experiment, and always treated me with kindness and respect. That set a high standard for the type of clients I wanted to work with moving forward. More than that, Marianne and Chris taught me something important just by living their truth: trust yourself, take the leap, and keep going, even when the road gets bumpy. We all know life is short—but how many of us truly feel it in our bones and act on it? Fast forward to today; - Their community has grown to over 200K strong. - Tomorrow, they celebrate a huge milestone—completing their 4.5-year journey around the world in their beloved van, Trudy. There are many more adventures ahead, but I wanted to pause to celebrate this achievement—and cheers to the people who remind me, yet again, that life is too short. -- Tread the Globe YouTube channel and IG links in the comments <3 --- Hey, I'm Lola, a remote Online Business Manager with a love for the outdoors and adventure. I write about my clients (mainly talented content creators), the SaaS I'm building, my freelancing/entrepreneurship journey, and my passion for outdoor sports. If any of that resonates with you, we should connect!
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I started my freelancing journey with 5k INR/month, and the ride has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. It's been two years since I started my Freelancing Journey. Here's the Journey till now - ⇢ Launched freelancing journey from Facebook group and closed my first client from there. ⇢ Steadily progressed and worked for 1.5+ years crafting content for my first clients, as she was an Agency owner. ⇢ I closed my next two clients from LinkedIn and referrals. I have been working with one of them for 1.5+ years. ⇢ I started my LinkedIn Journey 1.5 years ago, and we are almost 12k+community. ⇢ Started LinkedIn Ghostwriting journey by working with another Agency and content strategy for their clients. ⇢ The last five months saw a shift, collaborating with 5+ inspiring clients, coaches, and founders. Learnings: → Getting the first client is a bit tough, but you get a lot of learning and experience. → You start working at a low budget but can get exposure to different industries. → Your growth can be slow, but you must focus on yours. → Networking can be a game changer and bring new opportunities like Referrals. → Don't rely only on Inbounds; outbound strategy is also important. And that's the 2 years Journey in a nutshell. P.S. How was your Journey so far? Tell me more about you in the comment section.
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Today marks one year since I made the decision to leave traditional employment. The timing was terrible (or perfect!). My pinned posts explain why. I’m grateful for the experience so far. Freelance life has been rewarding, and just seems to get better. Here are a few things I know now that I didn’t know then. ⏰ Change starts now. While the final decision for me to leap into freelancing seemed to come fast, the results were based on decades of establishing myself professionally as someone who is smart, hardworking, authentic, and who works to the highest standards. I had contract work from day one because when I reached out to my network, I was asking for help from people who knew that I was someone they could bank on. Whether for their own organisation or to refer me to their own contacts. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, ‘I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday.” 👎 Just say no. This was a big one for me. I found (find!) it hard to turn work away. But when I found myself working more often than not, and lacking time to focus on building my business I realised this: You don’t have to, and you probably shouldn’t, say yes to everyone. Know your value, know your niche, and be true to that. It’s ok to say no, especially if saying yes leads you away from your goals or forces you to change your priorities. 💪 Play to your strengths. I’m evolving here. A year ago, I would have told you I was a copywriter with a strong marketing background. Now I know, I’m a fundraiser at heart and while writing is my gift, my strong social conscience will not be ignored. This is why I develop strategic comms for not for profit organisations and proactively learning everything I can about fundraising. Because when we love what we do, as the saying goes, we never really work. I will add to that, when we love what we do and operate out of our strengths, we naturally do it really well. So that’s me, one year in, learning, evolving, finding myself in my business. I will reiterate, freelance life is not all smooth sailing. But I’m loving the journey. I hope there was something interesting or helpful for someone in there 😉 ~~~~~~~~~~ Hey! I’m Abbie. I’m a fundraiser who can’t get enough of writing donor comms. Let me help you engage with your tribe, freeing you up to focus on your donors and the core mission of your not for profit organisation. #fundraiser #writer #freelancer #notforprofit 📷 Photo by Kelly Common on Unsplash
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Freelancing is tough! 😨 Starting my journey in 2019 was daunting, with questions swirling around pricing, client management, and finding my niche. 💭 But then I found something that made a huge difference: having someone to help keep me on track and motivated i.e.: accountability partner💼🤝 Here’s what worked wonders for me: 💠 Setting goals and sharing them: Transparency breeds accountability. 📈 💠 Monthly check-ins: Tracking progress kept me on track. 🗓️ 💠 Encouragement: Having someone to cheer me on when things got tough was invaluable. 🙌 It kept me focused and motivated — especially in that critical year, when I was close to quitting. I’m glad I didn’t quit. 🙂👊 The journey of a freelancer is filled with ups and downs, but with the right support system, it’s easier to navigate these challenges. 😃 This approach not only helped me persevere but also grow in my career. 🌱 It taught me the importance of community and how invaluable it is to have support as a freelancer. Joining a community 🤝 offers more than just networking; it’s about building lasting relationships. Over last few years, building meaningful connections and learning from the community has made me the better person and the better freelancer. Remember, freelancing isn’t a solitary journey. 🌍 Being part of a community means connecting with people who understand your struggles and challenges. It’s comforting to read about those who relate to your experiences.💬 These relationships go beyond professional benefits. They provide emotional support, practical advice, and sometimes lifelong friendships.🤗 Engaging in communities also opens doors 🔓 to collaborative opportunities, enhancing both personal growth and professional development. It’s about sharing knowledge, resources, and sometimes, just a listening ear. This aspect of community involvement is often underrated but is crucial for a fulfilling freelance career.🌟 LinkedIn is the platform to build a niche and meaningful connections and community. 🚀 Posting you achievements, experience and sharing knowledge can help you build a niche connections.🚀 -------------------------------------------------------------------- In Frame - Sucheta Rakshe, Nayan Jagtap & Mrunal Patil #Freelancing #CommunitySupport #AccountabilityPartners #CareerGrowth #LinkedInNetworking #FreelancerLife #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkLifeBalance #EmotionalSupport #CollaborationOpportunities
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I removed 100+ connections last week because my goals have changed. When I reluctantly signed up for LinkedIn a few years ago, it was to get a job. And until January, that's all I had considered it for. Those 100+ knew me as something else entirely: a passed over, laid-off UX designer struggling to find his feet. And that's not who I am anymore. At big companies, creatives we're usually the first to go, and I was one of them. (A few times, actually) It was a grind and honestly, not the grind for me. So I doubled down on what had been working for me - freelancing. During the pandemic, I started freelancing as a side hustle. Things like: → website builds → email sequencing → content copywriting It was simply a means to an end at the time. But I gave it a name anyway: Digital Grit In my head, it needed to be something more than just a side hustle. I needed to start visualizing it as a business, a hub or location where I could build upon this energy I was collecting and actually harness it. And for the first few months, I ran entirely on ego and bottled energy. I got a ton of local work though hustle and some lucky breaks. Then I burned out for the first time. My initial energy had dried up, I had no leads and I had to basically learn how to market myself from scratch. I had to start spending way more time online - this made me uncomfortable. What started as me freelancing was growing into a creator business/agency. If I was going to make this work, I had to unlearn my entire approach. I had to reset and refine my focus entirely. I realized that I was trying to do two things at once. I was trying to be a faceless creator, and hid, for over a year behind my business logo and name. But there are things I can never do as Digital Grit. There are things that I could only do as myself, as Josh Parsons. And I hated that idea. Yet I back jumped on LinkedIn and I took the mask off. I embraced my "personal brand". And it was f*cking cringy at first. And to be totally honest, I'm still not in love with the whole social media thing. My newsletter keeps me going. It's the direct emails with all the creators I've met over the past few month. My inbox: that's where its at! No algorithms or guru gatekeepers. Solid, curated content severed up at my pace. If that sounds good, join me each Friday for Serious About Marketing, where I take marketing seriously so that you don't have too. And while you're at it, take a few of my free email courses! Always free, always a bit of fun. ___ → I'm Josh, I manage marketing for growing creators and freelancers → Try my free marketing crash courses via email! Link in bio Things like:
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"Maybe it's time you get a real job now?" Someone in my personal life said this to me a few months ago when I was feeling a bit lost. Though meant well, it stung a little. I started freelancing when I was 19 in my second year of university. I had no idea it would turn into my full-time job and lead to me starting my own company a few years later. I worked at a shop and desperately wanted to do something that didn't have to involve staring at the clock for hours on end, waiting for the time to pass, writing my big plans on receipt roll, a hidden airpod in one ear listening to marketing podcasts. After that, I worked as a travel agent, managing the Foreign Exchange Bureau full-time over the summer. Again, I loved this. It was an incredible experience that taught me a lot about customer service, working with clients, and a lot of money management too! I had 1 finger on applying to marketing internships in New York, even from the age of 16. Standard teenage dream... But somewhere amongst all of that, was the reality. It felt like people around me in their office jobs were watching the clock, counting down, and commuting for hours to get to a job that didn't fulfil them. And then a little bit more reality - a global pandemic. I applied to over 200 'real jobs'. While all this was going on I was running an Instagram page to help myself keep accountable in my eating disorder recovery. Sharing food and fitness tips over lockdown. I thought, hmm, this whole community building thing is insanely fun, rewarding and actually aligns with my dreams of writing, designing, video creation and of course, more broadly, marketing. I set up a profile on WeMakeChange.org and quickly got two incredible opportunities - an Instagram manager role at a Non-Profit and an internship at a tech startup. Both unpaid, but one eventually became a paid role! I set up on Upwork, quickly finding my first proper paid client in 2021. Nearly 4 years later, 40 clients later, 2 years as a Head of Social, nearly 3 years contracting for a creative agency, working with the most brilliant minds in the business. Having the freedom to... Work anywhere in the world. Spend time with my family The flexibility to, one day, have a family of my own with my source of income being a portable and pretty-light square. Working with people across the world, I would have never otherwise met... Finding things out and fixing things for myself, over and over. Take care of myself, and get outside in nature. Take a call while walking. While, as sad as it is, earning more money than I would at any of the 'real' jobs I have interviewed for. So, let me reframe this, is there any such thing as a 'real job' anymore? Putting food on the table in whatever way works for you, feels pretty real to me. Never apologise for doing something different. Ask yourself this. Why did you start? And you will have your answer right there.
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Hello connections, long time no see! 👋🏻 It has been over six months since I started my freelancing career as a video editor. 💻 That's why I thought to share some experience, insights kinda things which I've learned in this small journey. 💡 1. Be fearless & take chance 🎲: When you are in your early 20s, you've a bunch of time to explore new career options. So, rather than just doing the same career trends, do something different. Try to learn new skills. Never leave any page unfolded. Who knows that skill would become a gamechanger for your. 2. Balance is important 🔬: At some point of your life you have to just balance so many things at the same time like, your study & relationship, your job & passion, family & friends etc. From my experience, in my last year of college I was studying for the semester, I was preparing for the placements and also I was learning video editing at the same time. I don't even know how I managed all of these but yeah there was no other option for me. So, be ready. 3. Learn to say NO ❌ : We often avoid saying no, because we don't want anyone to feel bad, but it is not right at all. I have been scammed so many times because of only one thing. I couldn't say NO! I was so desperate for money in my college that I grabbed various types of projects but ended up earning ZERO. Cause they finished the whole project by me but didn't even pay me a single rupee. Don't run behind money, work with genuine clients. It's ok if they pay you a little amount but the experience will play a major role in the future. 4. Nothing is permanent 🧿: if I compare between job and freelancing, well yes freelancing has more money but only if you are dedicated enough. Also there is no stable cashflow in this stream. Let's say if you are earning 40K-50K in a month, it doesn't mean next month you'll earn the same. So, keep eyes on your expenses if you don't wanna broke in random month. 5. Level up yourself 📈: Remember everything gets boring at a point. Even after following my passion, sometimes I feel like 'what the heck is this I'm doing'. But its your duty to make things interesting for you. You've to always keep eyes on the current social media trends to reach that particular stage. And yes you'll make mistakes. Accept it and learn from those mistakes. #videoediting #freelancing #contentcreation #filmmaker
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📌ALERT: It’s a long post. But once you read it till the end, your whole perspective towards freelancing will change. Because a lot of new people are coming to the Freelancing industry by picking a skill. They may have been attracted to this by watching COLOURFUL Reels of successful Niche experts. But the Irony is, after some days, they might feel- ‣ Bored ‣ Uninterested ‣ Fear of Uncertainty ‣ Hard to manage time When they face the above-mentioned challenges, they may start to think, 'This isn't the right career for me.' 😔 Why? “Because I’m not enjoying the process. I don't love what I’m doing”. They would say. But at that time no one will be there to tell them that ‘this is common’ in any career, especially in freelancing. ➡️ This is for them. You'll find joy in the process and truly enjoy your work only if you have a genuine interest in learning the skill and helping those who need assistance with it. Did you choose this path to make more money in less time? If yes? A 1 minute of Silence for you. Because you’re here only by seeing the ‘glittering side’. You’ve to put in some effort in the initial days. You’ve to face some setbacks. It's all part of the course. Why do experts charge high $$$ for their service? They are charging for the expertise and effort they put into being an authority in that skill. They have the knowledge and experience, now they just need to find where to use it in the client's business. ✅ They have skills ✅ They love to solve problems ✅ They’re excited about what they do So, if you wanna become known for your skill & expertise, You need to face and overcome challenges. With patience and hardwork. REPOST it, ONLY you find the value in it. PS: What made you select freelancing as your career? #freelancing #contentcreation #hardwork
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